As the air becomes chillier in the Phoenix and Tucson area, many people turn to their fireplace to keep their home warm on the colder days and nights and even just for ambiance. Bringing firewood into your home can mean that you are inviting and transporting pests inside. As much as you enjoy the crackling sounds and warmth of a fire, so do pests. There are things you can do to keep pests out of your firewood and to prevent them from joining you and your family inside your home. Let’s review some tips.
How to Keep Pests Out of Your Firewood
No one wants an Arizona pest problem, especially one that can be avoided. Below we review some ways you can keep pests out of your firewood to ensure that your family are the only ones enjoying sitting fireside in your home.
- Don’t Stack Firewood on the Ground. Moisture attracts insects and other pests, and firewood that is stored on the ground has difficulty drying. Try to use some sort of rack, concrete blocks, bricks, etc. to keep your firewood off the ground and to allow airflow to help dry it out and to make it harder for pests to make a home.
- Store Firewood Away from Buildings. Pests tend to enjoy hiding in wood piles, as it gives them some sort of structure and home. Keeping firewood close to a building is an open invitation for pests to enter. Wood-boring pests can tunnel through the wood and into the structure. It is recommended that firewood is stored at least three to five feet from any structures, including your home, shed, garage, etc.
- Keep it Covered. Add a secure cover to your firewood pile. Covering your firewood can protect it from the elements to ensure that it stays dry and also to make it harder for pests and rodents to be able to take up residence.
- Have Your Firewood Away from Trees and Bushes. Insects and other pests live in trees and bushes and they can move into your firewood if it is nearby. They may think that your pile is just another part of the area they call home. Most of these insects burrow into the wood and you may not even know they are there.
- Rotate the Pile. Use the oldest wood first. If you’re always using the wood you place on the top of the stack and refilling the pile before you reach the pieces on the bottom, the aging, unused firewood could make a home for pests. By using the most aged wood first, it will help to keep pests at a minimum, as you are not allowing infestations to build up.
- Inspect the Wood for Pests. While this may seem obvious, if you notice insects or other pests or rodents on a log, you should remove them before bringing the wood inside. Check all logs, top and bottom, to ensure you are not missing any hidden pests. As we mentioned before, some pests will burrow in the wood, so look for holes and other signs you may have an unwanted visitor within your firewood.
- Never Store Firewood Inside. As much as firewood piles outdoors can create a home for pests and rodents, if kept indoors, they can also provide an inviting indoor structure for these nuisances. You should not store firewood in your home, shed, garage, etc. This adds another place for critters to hide. Plus, you may have brought pests and rodent hitchhikers indoors with the wood, and didn’t even know it.
- Burn the Firewood Immediately. To go along with not storing firewood indoors, when firewood is brought inside, it should be burned right away. If the wood is brought indoors and not burned immediately, insects can crawl out from the wood into the warmth of your home.
One of the best ways to keep unwanted wood loving pests and rodents from your Phoenix or Tucson, AZ home, is to keep pests out of your firewood. Following our tips above should help; however, if you find your home with unwelcome pests and rodents, you are not alone.
Bucksworth Home Services is here to help with any pest or rodent issues in your Gilbert, Queen Creek, Surprise, Tucson, or other Arizona area home. For the past 15 years, we have helped thousands of homeowners make and keep their home pest-free.
By scheduling an appointment with us, you have taken the first step to protecting your home and your family.